Barcelona Set To Open Talks With Liverpool Regarding Defender

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Barcelona are weighing up a move for Liverpool defender Daniel Agger, according to reports in the Spanish media.

Daniel Agger was largely marginalized for Liverpool’s campaign last season. He started only 16 Premier League games. He was receded to the bench with Mamadou Sakho’s arrival from PSG. The Denmark captain has been wanted by Napoli and Barcelona is the past and has also been recently linked with a return to to former club Brondby. If reports in Catalan publication ‘Sport’ are to be believed, Barcelona have rekindled their interest in Liverpool’s vice-captain and are set to make a £11.8m bid for the 29-year-old.

Luis Enrique is looking to be making defensive additions to the Barca side after making the attack of the team more threatening by the arrivals of Luis Suarez and Ivan Rakitic. The Barcelona boss recently completed the signing of Jeremy Mathieu from Valencia. The 30 year old became the costliest defender above the age of 30 as he was brought in for £16m.

Enrique understands the value of a tight backline as Barcelon glaring weakness was their defence. Enrique needs a replacement for Carles Puyol and generally needs to strengthen that area. It seems that the Catalan side is targeting Daniel Agger, who could easily be prized away, as the player they want to bring in.

Agger very recently said hat he wanted to prove to Rodgers that he was worth being used more regularly. However, he insisted that being kept on the bench for most parts of last season was ‘not acceptable’ for him and he is considering his situation at the club.

“I am here now and it is up to me to show the coach that I should play.”

Commenting on the links to former side Brondby, that he left in January 2006 to make the switch to Liverpool, Agger said, “Many things can happen in football and I do not want to exclude anything,”

Liverpool are close to completing the signing of Southampton defender Dejan Lovren which further puts Agger’s position in jeopardy as he would be the fourth choice for the starting two berths. However, manager Brendan Rodgers has insisted that the arrival of a new central defender wouldn’t mean that Agger would have to leave the club. Rodgers said, “Agger is one of the best players we have. He has been unlucky because he has been plagued by injuries last season. He is a good player, he is experienced and we can use that in the upcoming season.”

Barcelona have also been heaving linked with Mats Hummels, Thomas Vermaelen and Jan Vertonghen. It remains to be seen who would eventually be signed by the La Liga giants.